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London 06/18

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Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the Royal Albert Hall in London has hosted some of the world's biggest concerts and events with the most famous artists on the planet.

Yet over the course of its illustrious near 150-year history, the Albert Hall has never hosted Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, an oversight that was rectified Monday night with an epic show that those in attendance will talk about for years to come.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we can't tell you how excited we are to be here in London tonight," Tom said after "I Won't Back Down." "It's been a dream of ours to play this hall for our entire lives, and we've got a lot of songs for you tonight."

With that, Tom and the guys launched into "Here Comes My Girl" off Damn the Torpedoes, and the band was off and running. The version of "Handle with Care" which came next, performed on a stage graced so many times by fellow Wilbury George Harrison, was particularly beautiful and poignant. Indeed, Mike Campbell's sweet slide guitar solo brought the sold-out crowd to its feet.

"Oh Well" - dedicated to its author Peter Green, "one of our British heroes" - was a rager, with Tom racing around the stages shaking maracas as the band roared.

Coming off stage after a phenomenal "Runnin' Down A Dream," Tom and the guys were all smiles, buzzing off the crowd energy in Royal Albert Hall and giddy after their debut in the landmark venue. By the time Steve Ferrone pounded out the last drumbeats of "American Girl," the room was ecstatic, giving Tom and the band a standing ovation and a fitting end to their first night at Royal Albert Hall.

SET LIST
Listen to Her Heart
You Wreck Me
I Won't Back Down
Here Comes My Girl
Handle with Care
Good Enough
Oh Well
Something Big
Don't Come Around Here No More
Free Fallin'
It's Good To Be King
Something Good Coming
Learning to Fly
Yer So Bad
I Shoulda Known It
Refugee
Runnin' Down A Dream

Comments

Seeing Tom and the band at the Royal Albert Hall was such a memorable experience. There was so much electricity in the audience, it could have shorted out the amplifiers! When everyone finally got up, at the end, I swear I could feel the building shake.
The only disappointment was that the tickets all went to scalpers. I will join the club next time to get a decent shot at the tickets.

Thank's to the Highway Companions Club Facebook competition, my seats were near the front, for the last few songs I was able to get right to the stage, what a show, been ages since I've seen something this good! The photo is a still from my phone video, will post another soon.
Hoops58.

We had the good fortune to meet Benmont while we were out for a walk in the park. What a nice, humble, genuine guy!! Thank you, Benmont, for taking the time to chat and pose for a picture! You pretty much made our day/year! :)

I was at the RAH on the 18th and the atmosphere throughout the complete 2 hour performance by Tom and the Heartbreakers was utterly electric and orgasmic inside the RAH.
It felt like one gigantic family of TP fans! everyone showing their fullest expression of pleasure and one after the other of standing ovations and screaming, cheering and whooping!!
So Tom do your diehard UK fans a HUGE FAVOUR AND HONOUR THEM WITH SOME MORE UK AND LONDON STADIUM SHOWS AND NOT JUST 3 GIGS THAT TAKE THE PISS AND INSULT ALL YOUR FANS THAT HAVE PUT YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY. HOW ABOUT JUST A EURO TOUR 2013???
I saw you and the HBs at the 2000 seater Shepherds Bush Empire in 1999 (Great Wide Open Tour)!!! If you could play that fantastic London venue before then why not again??? or the just as legendary Hammersmith Apollo which is so well known by millions throughout the UK!

Having made the solo journey down to London from sunny Newcastle (a Monday gig and a lengthy journey were off-putting to my regular gig buddies!), I have to say it was worth every penny and second to see one of my musical heroes in the flesh. Despite being rather high up in the Circle seats, it didn't detract from the amazing show that Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers put on - I have to say, the Royal Albert Hall is the best sounding venue I have ever been in, truly amazing sound. There were certainly a few goosebump moments!
Really hope it isn't too long before they come back to the UK - looking forward to seeing the footage from the Isle of Wight festival this weekend.
PS - Thanks to the fabulous ladies from Cirencester for keeping a lone Geordie company at the bar, especially Kelly (I think?? Sorry if I got your name wrong, they're certainly not my strong point) for talking me into a bag. Yes, I had a fantastic time!!

Wed 20th - Have to agree with the other poster - there were significant sound problems with almost every guitar 'thrash' (even worse for the poor support act, was actually interested in listening to Jonathan Wilson but gave up and went to the bar during the third song of the set).
Can't fault TPATHB, one of the best gigs I've been to despite not really being a 'hard-core' fan.
More accoustic numbers would have been the only improvement for me - it seemed that all the songs led inevitably to 'guitar wars' but there was a single track that really stuck out for me as it showed that this 61 year old can still sing!
Steve Winwood was a real bonus.

Best gig I have ever been to, Tom and the boys were amazing, with the added bonus of a couple of tracks from Steve Winwood . Refugee and won't back down had the Albert Hall rocking. Keep up the good work and come back soon UK loves you.

Thanks for returning to UK. was 25 years since I saw you in Glasgow, as support to Nils Lofgren. TP&TH were awesome. Highlight track for me was 'Good enough' the guitars of Tom and Mike were superb.
Up in the Gallery was brilliant great view and the acoustics were excellent. So Tom , I hope you realised how much we missed you.... AND COME AROUND HERE SOME MORE ..... V SOON

Been to some great gigs over the years - Queen NOTW tour 1978, Zeppelin at Knebworth 1979, Pink Floyd The Wall 1980 and 1981, U2 ZooTV tour early 90s etc etc, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday night was up there with all of them - truly a wonderful gig in a historic venue my wife Lou and I had never visited before but will be returning to. Good To Be King was immense. Only surprise not to hear First Flash of Freedom from the excellent 2010 album Mojo. Buy the Tour edition today! Thanks Tom and all the guys, just hope you recorded it and or the Wednesday show. Can't wait for Friday's TV from the Isle of Wight festival. Support band Jonathan Wilson was great too - ordered their album Gentle Spirit as soon as returned home to Manchester.

Waited so long to see TPATH live. Had so much trouble getting tickets and then a six month wait. But it was well worth the wait. Had a great night and enjoyed every single minute of it. Best concert I've ever been to. Come back again soon!

Was mortified when I found the cheap seats in the gallery were standing only - but realised very quickly that it was the best place to be. Not only did we have the best view of the venue, we had plenty of space to rock out. Felt sorry for the folk below, stuck in their seats for fear of upsetting their neighbours (although the guy in the aisle doing air guitar was pretty cool!)
The sound was fantastic and each and every thing the band played was just stunning. Was totally overawed and admit to shedding a little tear right at the start. I still can't believe I was there. It was undoubtedly one of the best gig experiences of my life and will make me smile for a long time to come. It was worth the journey from Scotland. (although such a pity they couldn't make it up here).
TPATH - you've made a lot of people feel good. And bring out the best in them -our little gallery community were just lovely :D Please come back soon, we really do love you x x

Having already been at the special, special Dublin gig I felt that second time round the show couldn't possibly match up but it was better than my wildest dreams and again we just wallowed in the sheer bliss of one number after the other being served with incredible enthusiasm, generosity and respect among the band themselves and perfect communion with the audience. Once again Tom and his Heartbreakers displayed an energy that would be the envy of 30-year-olds and didn't spare themselves in order to give us all they knew we had hoped for and more. It was a joyous evening that I wished could have gone on all night and beyond. I wish them all the best for the rest of the tour and a huge THANK YOU for having made at least this ordinary gal very, very happy. Come back to Europe sooooon! Actually, I've a better idea... STAY here!!!

Amazing night with a terrific atmosphere and the band were on fire!
I hope they enjoyed it as much as they appeared to.
I've already tried to post here twice since Monday but they didn't appear?
I'm off to IoW - can't wait!

Listen to her heart, Don't come around here no more, Something big, Runnin' down a dream, Refugee, Yer so bad, Here comes my girl...... classic after classic...... I thought I was dreaming last monday at the RAH. This is one of the best shows I've ever seen in my life. No doubt about it!!! The band at their best!!! Can't wait to see TP&TH in Paris next week. And, once again, Mr. Petty: Please come to Spain. We love you and we need you!!! to Mr. Scott Thurston: you have the voice of angels. :-D

Glad everyone else enjoyed the show because for me it was awful ! Only bought tickets for Monday because the ones I have tomorrow are a restricted view, last night we were in the choirs, £50 tickets to look at the backs of the band, and the sound was a muffled mess. Good job I knew all the words as we couldn't make any out, or I could read them off Tom's karaoke machine, I thought he might know em all by now !

Last night was amazing! Never thought I'd ever be able to see Tom and the lads in the UK and I have to say it was one of the best nights of my life! Really wish I was going Wednesday too! Thank you and PLEASE come again!
(oh and Claire from from Newcastle, who we met in the bar and talked ourselves into buying bags, hope you had a great night too!)

Great(est) band in a great venue, great great seats (thanks for listening after the first pre-sale), great atmosphere, great setlist, loads of singing and fantastic ovations- probably the best gig I've ever been to and I've been to a lot in my 52 years! Certainly the most special.
Thank you guys I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Excellent gig last night. Don't Come Around Here No More was a total highlight, the RAH was filled with glorious sound. A lot of standing ovations on their long overdue return to London & they looked happy to be there.

Was there on Monday. We had a blast. A truly great evening with a rock legend. At 60 Tom performs like a 30 year old. You only appreciate the way this band works together when you see them live. Fantastic inter-action. They know exactly what to do, and what the other band member's will do at the precise moment. Terrific audience inter-acton as well. There is a genuine sharing of the credit between Tom and his band. Great songs throughout and in the middle of the gig there is a mind blowing drumming moment with Steve. Going tomorrow night as well !

For Don't Come Around Here. Blew my mind to see you added it to the setlist a couple nights ago.
What an epic show!! What an atmosphere And damn good and LOUD. Only downer was the battle in the arena pit between those of us who wanted to get up and dance and those who wanted to moan about people who wanted to get up and dance.
On Wednesday, please MAKE EVERYONE GET OFF THEIR LAZY ASS!!!
Can't wait. Love you guys sooooo much!

To Tom and the band; I wish you the very best tonight and on the rest of the 2012 tour. I was fortunate to see you guys in Atlanta and visit with my friend Steve Ferrone! I have never heard the band sound better. I wish I were in London tonight! Break a leg guys! Thanks to all of you for coming out on tour and allowing your fans to see the show. We truly appreciate what you guys do. I know it isn't easy. Thanks to all of you.
Best Wishes
Randy
Panama City Beach Florida